More severe penalties for committing certain types of arsons and large-scale thefts at stores in North Carolina are among all or portions of 10 new state laws approved by the General Assembly this year that will take effect on Thursday.
The enacted legislation creates new felony crimes for setting fire to a prison, an occupied commercial structure and an unoccupied commercial structure. Someone who commits arson also will face a felony if a first responder suffers a “serious injury” from the blaze.
Arson that results in serious injury to firefighters, law enforcement, or other first responders will be classified as a Class F felony, punishable by up to 41 months in prison.
The new law also expands the definition of arson for places of worship to include synagogues, mosques, and temples. Previously, the law only specified churches, chapels, and meeting houses.